9 Do not gather my soul with sinners,
Nor my life with bloodthirsty men,
10 In whose hands is a sinister scheme,
And whose right hand is full of bribes. (Psalms 26:9-10)

23…Everyone loves bribes,
And follows after rewards.
They do not defend the fatherless,
Nor does the cause of the widow come before them. (Isaiah 1:23)

12 For I know your manifold transgressions
And your mighty sins:
Afflicting the just and taking bribes;
Diverting the poor from justice at the gate. (Amos 5:12)

4…corruption that is in the world through lust. (2 Peter 1:4)

Corruption is not good.

Now, cries about corruption in Moldova are not new. Notice something reported a while back related to an election in Moldova:

December 3, 2014

Igor Botan, a Moldovan political scientist, says that for most voters the elections represented a strategic choice between “pro-European crooks and pro-Russian crooks”.

Many citizens are questioning the election’s very legitimacy, because the party they planned to vote for was blocked from participating. On November 29th Moldova’s supreme court confirmed an earlier ruling that Patria, a new party led by Renato Usatii, a wealthy businessman, should be barred from the election. The court claimed that the party had been financed using illegal funds from abroad, presumably from Russia. http://www.economist.com/news/europe/21635339-moldovans-choose-europe-barely

So Moldovans see corruption in both Russia and the European Union.

The European Union wants nearly all of continental Europe to be part of it, and that includes Moldova, Moldova is a land, which like Ukraine, some in the West see as a ‘buffer’ against Russia because of geographic proximity.

Georgia (another potential “buffer”), Ukraine, and Moldova have all formally made steps to become part of the European Union.

Russia’s Vladimir Putin, on the other hand, wants all the former Soviet states to become part of Russia or at least part of his new Eurasian Economic Union,.

Moldovans are somewhat torn about this.

They took some steps towards the European Union in the past few years which has made them poorer as this displeased Russia, which restricted aspects of trade. Many in Moldova do not trust Russia and believe that they will be freer and wealthier as part of the European Union. Others have been disappointed with the Europeans, have been made poorer by turning away from Russia, and have serious doubts that the Europeans can improve their lives for some time. The migrant crisis in the European Union this year did not turn Moldovans towards the EU, however.

Anyway, Moldova has long had ties with Russia, Moldova is very poor by Western standards. It would seem to be the poorest nation in the EU, if it were to join. Moldova hopes the European Union will help, while Russia hopes Moldova will decide that Russia is a better economic partner.

So what will happen?

The Bible teaches that the European Beast power will expand to the south and the east.

Notice that, in Daniel 8, the Bible prophesied that a little horn would mainly expand South and East:

9 And out of one of them came a little horn which grew exceedingly great toward the south, toward the east, and toward the Glorious Land. 10 And it grew up to the host of heaven; and it cast down some of the host and some of the stars to the ground, and trampled them. 11 He even exalted himself as high as the Prince of the host; and by him the daily sacrifices were taken away, and the place of His sanctuary was cast down. 12 Because of transgression, an army was given over to the horn to oppose the daily sacrifices; and he cast truth down to the ground. He did all this and prospered. (Daniel 8:9-12).

And while the above has had a past fulfillment, this prophecy seems to be dual (compare with Daniel 11:27-39). The European Union has mainly expanded south and east of the Benelux nations Belgium, Netherlands, Luxembourg)–which is where it initially formed. Now, approximately 500 million people are now under a new, single (though not completed united) government, called the European Union, headquartered in Brussels. Ukraine is mainly east of much of the EU–thus its geography is consistent with being part of the EU. And Moldova and Georgia are south and east, which is also consistent. Do not be surprised if Moldova ends up with the Europeans for a time. But this is not certain.

Consider also the following:

27 Behold, the name of the Lord comes from afar,
Burning with His anger,
And His burden is heavy;
His lips are full of indignation,
And His tongue like a devouring fire.
28 His breath is like an overflowing stream,
Which reaches up to the neck,
To sift the nations … (Isaiah 30:27-28)

From a prophetic perspective, we appear to be seeing some sifting/separation between some of the peoples that live within the borders of Ukraine as well as Georgia and Moldova. According to Bible prophecy, those that appear to have descended from the ancient Medes will mainly ultimately align with Russia.

This does not mean that some or all of Ukraine, Moldova, etc. will not be part of the European Union, at least for a time.

The European Union has demonstrated a history and willingness to enlarge–and it is interested in Ukraine, Moldova, and Georgia. The U.S.A. keeps encouraging all of this, but this will not end well for the U.S.A. (cf. Daniel 11:39; Isaiah 10:5-11).

Of course, even now, not all in Ukraine, Moldova, and Georgia want to be part of the European Union, some prefer to be in Russia’s upcoming Eurasian Union. Those that become disillusioned/disappointed by the EU may ultimately back out of it.

Notice also the following:

1 The burden against Babylon which Isaiah the son of Amoz saw…

17 “Behold, I will stir up the Medes against them,
Who will not regard silver;
And as for gold, they will not delight in it.
18 Also their bows will dash the young men to pieces,
And they will have no pity on the fruit of the womb;
Their eye will not spare children.
19 And Babylon, the glory of kingdoms,
The beauty of the Chaldeans’ pride,
Will be as when God overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah. (Isaiah 13:1, 17-19)

11 Make the arrows bright!
Gather the shields!
The Lord has raised up the spirit of the kings of the Medes.
For His plan is against Babylon to destroy it,
Because it is the vengeance of the Lord,
The vengeance for His temple. (Jeremiah 51:11)

Biblically (because of prophecies involving the Medes, some of which are in Ukraine, and some in the “north and east” in Daniel 11:44), it would seem that Russia (a power of the “far north” Ezekiel 38:3,6) would be closer to at least parts of Ukraine (like some of the eastern portions of it) and possibly Moldova and Georgia in the end than many realize. (There is also a YouTube video available titled Ukraine in Prophecy?)

This will ultimately not end well for Europe:

50:41 “Behold, a people shall come from the north, And a great nation and many kings Shall be raised up from the ends of the earth.
42 They shall hold the bow and the lance;
They are cruel and shall not show mercy.
Their voice shall roar like the sea;
They shall ride on horses,
Set in array, like a man for the battle,Against you, O daughter of Babylon.

43 “The king of Babylon has heard the report about them,
And his hands grow feeble;
Anguish has taken hold of him,
Pangs as of a woman in childbirth…”(Jeremiah 50:41-43).

8 O daughter of Babylon, who are to be destroyed,
Happy the one who repays you as you have served us!
9 Happy the one who takes and dashes
Your little ones against the rock! (Psalms 137:8-9)

That is some of the bad news.

The good news is that Jesus will return after this and usher in the millennial kingdom of God. Until then, expect ups and downs and ups, and then ultimately major downs in Europe.

A German language publication reported that it seems that former German Economics Minister and Defense Minister Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg is resisting a call to come back into German politics. The following was machine-translated into English, with the original German following:

29 February 2016

Has he returned to the political stage? Horst Seehofer wants a political comeback for Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg, not least for the purpose to brake the rise of Markus Söders. But the ex-political star of the CSU now has no interest. He initially declined.

Horst Seehofer is not the biggest political supporter of his finance minister, Markus Söder. To prevent its ascent to the new strong man in the CSU, Horst Seehofer now seems to want to get his last ace out of his sleeve. In the party apparently increasing indications that the Bavarian Prime Minister wishes to return Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg.

But he does not seem interested. The former political star of the CSU currently resides in the USA. He has a consulting and investment company with its expansion, he of the “Süddeutsche Zeitung was” According entirely filled. This he had the newspaper in an email letting them know. In it he writes: “Regardless of the legitimate reasons for my resignation and my lousy deal would thus not justify a return.” 2011 Guttenberg had resigned due to a plagiarism scandal as defense minister.

A final rejection?

Whether this rejection is final, is still unclear. The Bavarian Prime Minister Horst Seehofer has brought in him as a consultant in his campaign team.

I have been following Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg since 2009 after seeing the following from a Canadian writer:

Given the realities of geoeconomics it is not inconceivable that a far more dynamic leader such as German Economics Minister Karl Theodor von und zu Guttenberg might one day be in charge.

Is the past key to the future? If one goes back five centuries China and India ruled the global economy. Turkey dominated the world of Islam. Europe suddenly came together under the leadership of the young dynamic Habsburg Charles V, who ruled from Belgium. Charles sought to halt the expansion of Islam, defend European civilization, unite the continent and forge a Latin American empire. Europe enjoyed a global reach under his reign, not only by military might but by “soft power” and diplomacy.

If America declines, will Europe fill the vacuum, partly in response to the Chinese challenge? To some this seems unlikely but think back to the world of only a scant 10 years ago when the Anglo-American model of stakeholder capitalism stood triumphantly (and perhaps a tad arrogantly) and practically alone on the top of the heap, and how much has changed since then. (Moore K, Lewis D. The decline of America. Ottawa Citizen, Canada – Dec 24, 2009. http://www.ottawacitizen.com/technology/decline+America/2377175/story.html)

The Bible warns of a strong leader who will rise up in the area north of Jerusalem (like Europe) that will apparently be charismatic (cf. Daniel 7:20,11:21-24,31; Revelation 13:3-5). He will lead a confederation that does not stick well together (Daniel 2:42-43), like many of the nations of the European Union.

Another wrote this about Herr Guttenberg and his family:

Baron zu Guttenberg’s grandfather (his mother’s father) was the late German winemaker & Croatian politician the Count of Vukovar. From the Count, Baron zu Guttenberg is descended from the noble house of Eltz…At the ripe age of 70, the Count of Vukovar took up arms in defence of the town of Vukovar during the Yugoslav Wars of 1991…

The Baron’s wife, meanwhile, is Stephanie, Countess of Bismarck-Schönhausen, great-great-granddaughter of the “Iron Chancellor”, Otto von Bismarck. A portent of this economics minister’s future? (Cusack A. The Freiherr of Finance. October 5th, 2009, http://www.andrewcusack.com/2009/10/05/guttenberg-germany/ viewed 04/25/10).

So, even in 2009, some started to wonder if the Baron (who was economics minister in mid-2009, and until March 2011 defense minister) might wind up in a much more influential role.

In 2011, the then 97 year-old former WWII codebreaker for the UK, Harry Beckhough put together a video where he stated he wanted:

…to introduce to you the man that may well become the new Führer of Germany…Baron Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg…here is my man to watch as future Führer…more educated, more aristocratic…than Hitler (Europes New Fuhrer – by Harry Beckhough WW II Codebreaker, uploaded February 9, 2011. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9LplCcxyPo4 viewed 20120501)

Some had thought that the political career of Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg was over because of his plagiarism scandal that led to his resignation as Germany’s Defense Minister in March 2011. Others thought he might re-emerge in politics about now.

Herr Guttenberg was an upcoming star for the CSU. So much so, Karl-Theodore zu Guttenberg was once considered to be a likely replacement for German Chancellor Angela Merkel, until he resigned in disgrace after being accused of plagiarizing substantial parts of his doctrinal dissertation.

I have been warning since that time that he would be expected to re-emerge in European politics, but he seems to be waiting until he thinks the time is better. Yet, he has remained in the international spotlight through various articles, positions, and interviews.

Since I first wrote about him in late 2009, there have been at least nine speculative predictions that I posted online that Baron Guttenberg has somewhat fulfilled.

If Karl Guttenberg is part of a major Middle East peace deal, if he later establishes armies (or a great army), and if he establishes something like a new religious order within his version of the “Catholic” faith, he hopefully will get more people’s attention. And if Karl Guttenberg ultimately does gain the top job in a restructured Europe (especially if there are various signs and wonders at and after that time, cf. 2 Thessalonians 2:9-12 ), all would be wise to realize that he pretty much is the one who will be the final King of the North (despite the type of denials that would be expected).

If he does resign, this would not be a surprise. For various reasons, he may be out of the limelight for a while, if he does, in fact, become the final King of the North.

And of course, while the Baron did not resign in 2010, he did end up 2011 resigning for other reasons. The fact that he indicated he might resign in 2010 was another factor that got me to consider that he might be the final King of the North. As far as being out of the limelight, on December 23, 2012, Der Speigel ran an article pointing out the fact that he was staying away from publicity, etc. (see Karl-Theodor Guttenberg working in secret?), hence providing further confirmation to my speculation.

Despite the Guttenbergs rising popularity, Karl Guttenberg is virtually unknown to those I have spoken to about him in Southern California (the American media tends to spend less time on foreign affairs than they do to American celebrities).

I have been one of relatively few to regularly post prophetic articles about him, and seem to be the first newswriter to specify that Karl zu Guttenberg may become the final King of the North of Bible prophecy and Great Monarch of Catholic and Byzantine (Eastern/Greek Orthodox) prophecy.

And it is possible that he could end up out of the limelight, or even out of a political office, for a while.

And although Angela Merkel had wanted him to remain as Defense Minister at that time, he resigned from political office shortly after (March 1, 2011, see Guttenberg Resigns!) a few days after I posted that he might.

Mr. zu Guttenberg may reemerge in politics in the future (and this bears watching)…

In that same March 4, 2011 post, I wrote (bolding added):

And the Baron is certainly one to watch…I have had my eye on Karl Guttenberg since late 2009 when I initially reported about him. And he may be one to watch to rise up as the final “King of the North”…If Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg eventually establishes a new religious order within Catholicism (cf. Daniel 11:38), promotes European unity, promotes ecumenism, promotes peace in the Middle East, and/or otherwise rises up in European politics, he could be very interesting to watch.He now may have the time to do some of these things…As I reported before, certain Roman and Orthodox Catholic prophecies seem to suggest that a certain leader will arise in Europe after being exiled for something…

If he becomes more involved in issues with the Vatican, a religious order, and/or the EU, watch out!

And this last item has began to happen as Karl zu Guttenberg on 12/12/11 was appointed to a position in the EU (Guttenberg Criticized, But…), though this is not the final role I suspect that he may have.

Here are Catholic and Eastern Orthodox prophecies that could apply to the Baron:

Josefa von Bourg (d. 1807): God will choose a descendant of Constantine, Pepin, and St. Louis, who has been tried by a long period of exile to rule over Europe. He will have the sign of the cross on his breast…Under him the Catholic religion will spread as never before (Culleton, The Prophets and Our Times, pp. 181-182; Connor, p.37).

Anonymou Paraphrasis (10th century): The one true King, who is inhabiting a humid place to avoid the heat; whom men have expulsed from his own dwelling and gave a place to live in the islands; who is engaged in navigation and fishing every week; (this King): will be revealed when the time of the power of the Ishmaelites comes to an end. (Tzima Otto, p. 30)

For those who are unaware, Karl zu Guttenberg descends from the Habsburg line and all the Habsburg line seems to have descended from Charlemagne (King Pepin was the father of Charlemagne). So the idea of one who is to become a ruler who has Baron Guttenberg’s ancestry is supposed to be exiled.

So, before he announced his exile, I suspected that he may fulfill exile prophecies.

Anonymou Paraphrasis (10th century): The one true King, who is inhabiting a humid place to avoid the heat; whom men have expulsed from his own dwelling and gave a place to live in the islands; who is engaged in navigation and fishing every week; (this King): will be revealed when the time of the power of the Ishmaelites comes to an end. (Tzima Otto, p. 30)

The coastal portion of Connecticut, where he now owns a house near other celebrities, has been described as a humid subtropical climate. Whether the Baron goes to islands, navigates, or fishes much, will be seen.

The fact that he moved to a location that somewhat fits that prophecy was of interest to me.

Interestingly, Karl zu Guttenberg’s first major speech after moving to the USA was actually in Canada, and he called for a stronger leadership in Europe. This is something that I covered at this National Church History and End Time Prophecy column on November 21, 2011 (see Baron Guttenberg back on public stage and is advocating stronger EU leadership for details). In that article I mentioned “23 items to consider as to why Karl zu Guttenberg could possibly fill the role that he now seems to be advocating,” thus I felt that part of the purpose of his speech was to tell the world that he might be interested in providing Europe the strong leadership he was advocating.

I wrote back in March of 2011 that Herr Guttenberg should be watched for possible re-emergence in the political arena. And this is one more step by him confirming those speculations. Notice something that I posted on December 9, 2011 (see Guttenberg Makes Return to EU Politics in Brussels):

If Karl zu Guttenberg is the one to become the final King of the North of Daniel 11, he will further re-emerge as a force in European politics–this is something that I am now, and have been for some time, watching for. And yes, I also suspect that he will have some disappointments on the way, but that does not change what I feel may happen with him.

The final Beast will ultimately become the political leader of Europe. And according to the Bible, he will have military abilities (Revelation 13:1-4) and apparently be popular and charismatic (cf. Daniel 7:20,11:21-24,31; Revelation 13:3-5).

New Job for Guttenberg

Advisor to the EU Commission

Brussels (dpa) – An ex-Minister Guttenberg returns to the political scene – but only for the time being the EU Commission in Brussels…Guttenberg said on Monday in Brussels: “This is not a political comeback. I went to the U.S. and I do not plan to return in the next few weeks or months”…

Brussels, 12 December 2011 – European Commission Vice-President Neelie Kroes has invited Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg, a former Federal Minister of Defence, and of Economics and Technology, in Germany, to advise on how to provide ongoing support to Internet users, bloggers and cyber-activists living under authoritarian regimes. This appointment forms a key element of a new “No Disconnect Strategy” to uphold the EU’s commitment to ensure human rights and fundamental freedoms are respected both online and off-line, and that internet and other information and communication technology (ICT) can remain a driver of political freedom, democratic development and economic growth… http://europa.eu/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=IP/11/1525&format=HTML&aged=0&language=EN&guiLanguage=en

So, on December 12, 2011, Baron Guttenberg confirmed that he believes that he has military expertise, economic expertise, has political connections, and is popular with enough to help Europe now. And Europe apparently believes he has the computer and surveillance knowledge to be helpful.

Anonymou Paraphrasis (10th century): He is graceful and charming his cheeks are turning red when he blushes. He is tall in stature, he has a beard, and there is a moustache also…he has dark hair, his head begins to turn bald in the front, he has an elderly look… (Tzima Otto, p. 43)

The Baron is considered to be graceful and charming. And while the Baron is not tall by modern standards, he would be tall by the standards of the time the above was written (the average height for a male was about 5 foot 6 inches a century or so ago). I do not know if his cheeks are able to turn red. He is slightly balding in the front. In the hundreds of photographs I have viewed of him, he never had a beard or moustache. So, either the prophecy is in error (or does not apply to him) or he will get both a beard and a moustache. If so, then he might have that “elderly look.”

And then, in an interview uploaded 4/29/15 on TheStreetTV, Herr Guttenberg had a beard and a moustache!

In summary, here are nine speculative predictions that Baron Guttenberg fulfilled after I wrote about them:

He has advocated more European military cooperation.

He became unpopular for a time (and still is among many).

He ended up, for a time, outside of political office.

He went out of the limelight for a while.

He went into exile (self-imposed).

His exile was to a humid location.

He has partially re-emerged in European politics.

He has called for Germany to consider being a leader in data protection.

He grew a beard and moustache.

Of course, none of this proves that Karl-Theodor von und zu Guttenberg will have to be the King of the North, but these items may be more than an interesting coincidence. Time will tell.

Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg could simply be a politician, like many others, that has problems and is considering his options. And all his intentions could be fine. We will see.

It is important to remember that there are more than a dozen New Testament admonitions to watch and be alert to the signs of the times in the last days (see Matthew 24:42-44; 25:13; Mark 13:33-37; Luke 21:34-36; Acts 20:31; 1 Thessalonians 5:6, 20).

Although Karl Guttenberg may not become the Beast leader, at this time, it still seems that he is one to watch. The fact that his younger brother is getting involved with politics, is consistent with having Europeans turn to Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg in the future (cf. Revelation 17:12-13).

The UK turned to Winston Churchill after repeatedly rejecting him. We could see not only Germany, but all of Europe, turning to Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg in the future. For those that doubt that Europe could turn to a ‘strong man,’ consider that 1) the Bible teaches this in Revelation 17:12-13, and 2) even many in the USA have turned towards Donald Trump.

Disfellowshiped former LCG members Patrick and Elizabeth Scarborough have sued the Living Church of Godand some of its leaders for slander with a mediation hearing apparently scheduled for July 11, 2016:

On this last day of Black History Month, I thought it might be appropriate to quote some writings from the late Martin Luther King Jr. Particularly, those on the ancient sun-god religion of Mithraism, that was popular in the Roman Empire from about the first century B.C. until the fourth century A.D.

So here is some of what Dr. King wrote on Mithraism, in a document dated November 23, 1949:

In Avesta, Mithra was the genius of celestial light…The doctrine of the immortality of the soul was another view which was very prominent in Mithraism…

Women were compelled to seek salvation in some other cult, for Mithraism excluded them entirely…

When Mithraism is compared to Christianity, there are surprisingly many points of similarity. Of all the mystery cults, Mithraism was the greatest competitor of Christianity…

Of course, true Christians did not really borrow from Mithraism, but the Greco-Roman faiths did.

Here is some of what Dr. King wrote in a document dated February 15, 1950:

Mithraism…was suppressed by the Christians sometime in the latter part of the fourth century A.D.: but its collapse seems to have been due to the fact that by that time many of its doctrines had been adopted by the church, so that it was practically absorbed by its rival.

…the Church made a sacred day out of Sunday partially because…of the resurrection. But when we observe a little further we find that as a solar festival, Sunday was the sacred day of Mithra: it is also interesting to notice that since Mithra was addressed as Lord, Sunday must have been “the Lord’s Day” long before Christian use. It is also to be noticed that our Christmas, December 25th, was the birthday of Mithra, and was only taken over in the Fourth Century as the date, actually unknown, of the birth of Jesus.

To make the picture a little more clear, we may list a few of the similarities between these two religions: (1) Both regard Sunday as a Holy Day. (2) December 25 came to be considered as the anniversary of the birth of Mithra and Christ also. (3) Baptism and a ritual meal were important parts of both groups…

In summary we may say that the belief in immortality, a mediator between god and man, the observance of certain sacramental rites…were common to Mithraism and Christianity. (King ML. The papers of Martin Luther King, Jr, Volume 4. Clayborne Carson, Ralph Luker, Penny A. Russell editors/compliers. University of California Press, 1992, pp. 307, 309.)

Notice that Martin Luther King, Jr. clearly understood that the Sunday churches dropped the Sabbath, that “the Lord’s Day” essentially first meant the day of Mithra, and that the worlds’ churches did adopt many practices from Mithraism.

I wish he and others emphasized this aspect of his writings more. His writings on Mithraism should help raise the awareness of its influence to all. Hopefully, so people who claim Christ will realize that they should not continue practices that many obtained outside of the Bible, but from the influence of Mithraism.

I would again like to emphasize that Christians faithful to the original teachings of Christ, the apostles, and the New Testament did not adopt the practices of Mithraism.

While Dr. King was most known for his civil rights protests, he figured out that much of what passed for Christianity in his day was really a form that adopted Mithratic practices. Does that include your version? Are you sure?

The two front runners for the US presidential nomination seem to be gaining momentum:

February 28, 2016

COLUMBIA, SOUTH CAROLINA—Hillary Clinton easily won the U.S. Democratic presidential primary in South Carolina on Saturday, cementing her status as front-runner in her party’s race and delivering a key defeat to Bernie Sanders ahead of the crucial Super Tuesday nominating contests.

Clinton won the backing of almost three-fourths of Democrats who went to the polls in the first Southern state to vote during the presidential candidate nominating season. …

Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump seem to have a lot of support and both may become their party’s nominee to become the next President of the United States.

I have read several news reports about why one or the other will defeat the other in November, presuming they both win the nominations from the respective parties.

As I have written before, neither one of them is a Christian.

Without going into a lot of details here, not only are neither one of them trustworthy (cf. Romans 1:28-32), they have both made statements that clearly go against the Bible (for specific details on them, see Hillary Clinton in Prophecy and Donald Trump in Prophecy).

Which of them might Russia’s Vladimir Putin prefer?

Publicly, he indicated that he likes Donald Trump and Donald Trump seemed to accept his ‘endorsement’ a couple of months ago. When Vladimir Putin praised Donald Trump last December, I posted the following:

Vladimir Putin is correct that Donald Trump has been a flamboyant presidential candidate. How well the two of them would actually get along remains to be seen.

Vladimir Putin does NOT get along with top Democratic presidential candidate, Hillary Clinton.

Vladimir Putin says he will work with whoever is elected the next USA president. Which one he really feels would be better for Russian interests may not be one he has publicly stated. (Thiel B. Vladimir Putin praises Donald Trump and blasts Turkey. December 17, 2015).

Last evening, World News Daily posted the following:

NEW YORK – Russia’s Vladimir Putin wants Donald Trump to lose the 2016 presidential race because he believes Russia would have a much easier time taking advantage of Hillary Clinton in the White House, according to an international adviser and expert who once was dubbed the “Global Sherpa.”

Theodore Roosevelt Malloch … said Putin is calculating for the future much the same as Gorbachev calculated in 1982, when officials in the Soviet Union feared a Ronald Reagan victory over Jimmy Carter could spell trouble for the Kremlin. …

“What the Reagan presidency showed is how weak the Soviets really were,” he continued. “What Putin has learned from Obama’s presidency and Hillary’s time as secretary of state was how weak both Democrats were when it came to confronting Russia on a score of issues.”

For example, he pointed out the capitulation of the Obama administration over placing a missile defense shield in the Czech Republic and Poland in the first term, and to the Obama administration’s decision to send weapons to support anti-Russian forces in Ukraine during Obama’s second term. …

“What Putin fears is that a Trump presidency would mark a return of the United States to a foreign policy of confrontation with Russia,” Malloch argued.

Would Trump, like Reagan, use oil as a weapon?

“Putin has studied Gorbachev and he understands how Reagan used oil to win the Cold War,” Malloch pointed out.

“Trump would probably be willing to take the same economic gamble Reagan took in 1982,” he continued. “In 1982, Reagan calculated the Soviet Union’s economic dependence upon oil created a vulnerability the U.S. could exploit by encouraging the Saudis to pump, aiming to create a worldwide oil glut that would cause the price of oil to plummet.

Some think that Donald Trump’s style is the answer to Russia, the Islamic State, China, and Mexico. How well he would truly fare with them remains to be seen. Hillary Clinton has much more actual experience dealing with Vladimir Putin and aspects of foreign diplomacy than Donald Trump.

LOS ANGELES — Moviegoers turned out en masse to see the sadomasochistic love story “Fifty Shades of Grey” over the Presidents’ Day weekend, delivering a triumph for Universal Pictures and potentially altering Hollywood’s approach to sex.

“Fifty Shades of Grey,” capitalizing on the fall of Valentine’s Day on a Saturday, will take in about $90.7 million between Thursday night and Monday, according to Rentrak, which compiles ticketing data. The movie, which cost $40 million, attracted an audience that was 68 percent female, Universal said.

The film, directed by Sam Taylor-Johnson and based on the erotic novel by E. L. James, played in 3,646 theaters in North America, the largest release in history for an R-rated movie, according to Nick Carpou, Universal’s president of domestic distribution. “Theater owners added screens in response to a clamor from their patrons,” Mr. Carpou said on Sunday.

Female fans of the best-selling book — apparently dragging along a lot of reluctant husbands and boyfriends to theaters — created a wave of interest that pushed past reviewers, who gave the film terrible notices. Also drowned out were those calling for a boycott, among them the feminist group Stop Porn Culture, several domestic abuse organizations and the Roman Catholic archbishop of Cincinnati.

Fifty Shades of Grey promotes semi-rape and fornication. Perhaps it should have been called Fifty Shades of Sin.

The term “Grey” while the main character’s name, suggests something that is not good or bad, but in-between. The movie and what it depicts is bad. And no, I did not watch it or need to watch it personally (I also have never watched an X-rated movie, but have read enough about them to realize why they are wrong)–I read book and movie reviews about Fifty Shades of Grey that gave me enough details to be able to conclude it was bad.

So, I denounced Fifty Shades of Grey in accordance with the following:

1 Cry aloud, spare not;
Lift up your voice like a trumpet;
Tell My people their transgression,
And the house of Jacob their sins. (Isaiah 58:1)

Notice some more passages from the Bible:

18 Flee sexual immorality. Every sin that a man does is outside the body, but he who commits sexual immorality sins against his own body. (1 Corinthians 6:18)

24 Therefore God also gave them up to uncleanness, in the lusts of their hearts, to dishonor their bodies among themselves, 25 who exchanged the truth of God for the lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen.

26 For this reason God gave them up to vile passions. For even their women exchanged the natural use for what is against nature. 27 Likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust for one another, men with men committing what is shameful, and receiving in themselves the penalty of their error which was due.

28 And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a debased mind, to do those things which are not fitting; 29 being filled with all unrighteousness, sexual immorality, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, evil-mindedness; they are whisperers, 30 backbiters, haters of God, violent, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, 31 undiscerning, untrustworthy, unloving, unforgiving, unmerciful; 32 who, knowing the righteous judgment of God, that those who practice such things are deserving of death, not only do the same but also approve of those who practice them. (Romans 1:24-32)

A movie whose entire message is basically fornication and semi-rape is bad.

Of course, it has long been said that “sex sells.” It is just sadistic sex used to be only something that a relative few were involved in.

Notice also the following prophetic warning:

3 But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: 2 For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, 3 unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, 4 traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God (2 Timothy 3:1-4)

Fifty Shades of Grey has been book and movie sensation promoting brutality around the world. That is not good.

On February 19, 2016, British Prime Minister David Cameron finalized a deal with the European Union to grant ‘special status’ to the United Kingdom. The agreement states that the UK is exempt from having to become part of a more unified state that Europe is working on, allows it to keep its currency (the pound), and reduce certain benefits to migrants. The purpose of the ‘special status’ is to hope that voters in the UK will decide to stay in the EU, when a referendum is held on June 23, 2016. Yet, many eastern and western European nations are displeased that the UK was granted its special status. What will be the end result of the relationship between the UK and Europe? Will the UK end up losing its sovereignty because of Europe no matter how it votes? What does Bible prophesy show?

The US military is realizing that it aging nuclear missiles are eroding its credibility:

February 27, 2016

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. (AP) — In describing how little room the Pentagon has to extend the life of its decades-old nuclear forces, the top U.S. nuclear war-fighting commander, Navy Adm. Cecil Haney, says “we’re at the brick wall stage.”

Time to begin modernizing the country’s nuclear weapons is running short, he and other Pentagon leaders say. They contend the force is still in fighting shape – “safe, reliable and effective” is the official mantra. But they also argue the time has come to begin modernizing the force or risk eroding its credibility as a deterrent to attack by others.

Robert Work, the deputy secretary of defense, said the Pentagon will need an estimated $18 billion a year between 2021 and 2035 to modernize the three “legs” of the U.S. nuclear triad – weapons capable of being launched from land, sea and air.

“We need to replace these,” Work said. “We can’t delay this anymore.”

The enormous sums needed are at risk of getting squeezed by high-priority requirements for non-nuclear, conventional weapons. And Work’s numbers don’t include the billions that would be needed to modernize the nuclear warheads on the business end of missiles and bombs.

“Modernization now is not an option” – it must happen, Haney, the commander of U.S. Strategic Command, said in an interview on Friday, just hours after watching a test launch of an unarmed Minuteman 3 intercontinental ballistic missile, or ICBM. The Minuteman, which has been on constant 24-hour alert since 1970, has long surpassed its 10-year life expectancy.

Haney said the U.S. stockpile of nuclear warheads is the oldest it has ever been. As head of Strategic Command he is the military’s top nuclear war-fighter.

So, it looks like some in the defense world believe that the 2021 and 2035 time period is critical. This suggests a perceived vulnerability to attack during those years.

As far as the Minuteman program goes, the US military has been launching Minuteman missiles from Vandenberg for decades. According to something I heard on the radio yesterday, two were launched and tested this month. They test them to see how well they work, and apparently some US military officials have doubts about them, even after these recent tests.

Here is some information on the history of the Minuteman missile:

Development of the Minuteman began in the mid-1950s as the outgrowth of basic research into solid fuel rocket motors which indicated an ICBM based on solids was possible. …

Minuteman entered service in 1962 as a weapon tasked primarily with the deterrence role, threatening Soviet cities with a counterattack if the US was attacked. … The Minuteman-II entered service in 1965 with a host of upgrades to improve its accuracy and survivability in the face of an anti-ballistic missile (ABM) system the Soviets were known to be developing. Minuteman-III followed in 1970, using three smaller warheads instead of one large one, which made it very difficult to attack by an anti-ballistic missile system which would have to hit all three widely separated warheads to be effective.

Peaking at 1000 missiles in the 1970s, the current US force consists of 450 Minuteman-III missiles in missile silos around Malmstrom AFB, Montana; Minot AFB, North Dakota; and F.E. Warren AFB, Wyoming. By 2018 this will be reduced to 400 armed missiles, with 50 unarmed missiles in reserve, and four non-deployed test launchers to comply with the New START treaty. The Air Force plans to keep the missile in service until at least 2030. (LGM-30 Minuteman. Wikipedia, accessed 02/27/16)

Much of the USA’s nuclear deterrent is aging. And the Minuteman is clearly one component that is.

Many think that the military of the USA is too strong to ever be beat militarily. Those who place their trust in that notion are 0verlooking scripture as well as what has been happening the past several years.

The Europeans are not comfortable standing by as the USA slowly diverts military protection away from them, while it also cuts the size of its military.

The ‘social experiments’ happening in the US military are also another risk that many have overlooked (Sexual corruption at the US military academies). This is a risk that even with the ‘right’ equipment, those involved with it may not act as defense officials will want them to in a real military emergency–character counts.

The current concern that defense officials have is money. The Obama Administration has ‘kicked the can’ down the road the past seven years, as I taught back in 2009 it would do:

“Because of domestic economic concerns and international pressures, Barack Obama is shifting priorities away from defense spending… This will help lead to the destruction of the United States, when the Europeans are ready and the U.S.A. is not” (Thiel B. 2012 and the Rise of the Secret Sect. Nazarene Books, 2009, p. 147).

Here is something I posted on this page about two years ago:

While the USA will do some modernization, it has so many political considerations (including economic) when it makes defense spending decisions that optimal defense capabilities are not always the top priority (often getting or keeping defense-related jobs in certain areas plays a major role). The essentially bankrupt USA cannot really afford to be on top militarily and its political system will likely contribute to it making the wrong decisions for its next major war. The USA’s recent focus on terrorism seems to have gotten it to overlook who its future enemies will be. Thus, the USA will likely modernize the wrong aspects of its defenses. (Thiel B. After START Treaty, Russia Announces New Military Build-Up. February 24, 2011)

Notice that the Bible shows that the power with the strongest military will be taken over:

39 Thus he shall act against the strongest fortresses with a foreign god, which he shall acknowledge, and advance its glory; and he shall cause them to rule over many, and divide the land for gain. (Daniel 11:39)

Many still do not accept what scripture teaches on this, but biblical prophecy will be fulfilled.

The USA, itself, tends to be focusing on how to deal with China and Russia and Middle East terrorists, which is part of why it will not see what is happening in Europe. The current world order dominated by the USA, and formerly by the UK is being changed. The Bible shows that the time of Jacob’s trouble (Jeremiah 30:7) is getting nearer–and that will greatly affect the USA, the UK, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand which have descendants from Jacob also known as Israel. The Bible also tells of the final time of the Gentiles. (Luke 21:23-24; Revelation 11:2), which means the time when the descendants of Israel will no longer dominate the world scene.

If those in the UK vote to leave the European Union on June 23, 2016, it will certainly be a shock to the European Union, UK, and various other economies of the world. The USA has encouraged the UK to remain in the EU.

A British exit from the EU would rock the Union – already shaken by differences over migration and the future of the euro zone – by ripping away its second-largest economy, one of its top two military powers and by far its richest financial center. http://www.reuters.com/article/us-britain-eu-idUSKCN0VT09I

It is the rocking of the European Union that the Europeans do not want and why they gave concessions. But by granting ‘special status’ that is clearly setting the stage for the time to come for the UK to depart from being an equal member of the EU. And actually, that ‘special status’ means it has already officially been granted partial separation.

The possible departure of the UK from the EU has often been called a Brexit (BRitish EXIT) and Brixit (BRItish exIT) in the press.

Here is an update on London Mayor, and member of David Cameron’s political party, Boris Johnson:

So, a vote to leave the European Union is believed to be permanent, at least by London’s mayor.

Many, like Nigel Farage and his United Kingdom Independence Party (UKIP) and even members of Prime Minister’s own Conservative party, want the UK out of the EU. They tend to believe that the European Union wastes UK money, tries to impede UK sovereignty, is moving towards a type of ‘superstate’ that the UK does not want to be part of, and that overall EU membership hurts the economy of the UK.

A possible British exit from the European Union should not come as a surprise to long-term readers of this news page.

The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland will not be an equal part of the European Union. Britain will either pull out or be forced out or at least truly lose its sovereignty.

The voters of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland may not believe it, but the UK will lose its sovereignty. Getting ‘special status’ would basically make the UK more of a target of resentment by others in the EU as has already somewhat pulled out.

For quite some time, the idea of Britain leaving the European Union has been called a “Brexit” or “Brixet” – British exit.

Yet, whether it is called a Brixit or a Brexit, in some way, some day, the United Kingdom will exit.

We will see how the vote on June 23, 2016 turns out as polls seem to vary on this.

If the UK votes to leave, then those in the European Union will feel that the UK has betrayed Europe, and will hold this against the UK. Various Europeans have indicated that London will cease its role of being the financial center of Europe, should the UK vote to leave the EU. There have been threats of trade being impacted, etc.

But what if the UK votes to stay in?

Well, this will be problematic in many ways.

Both eastern and western European nations are opposed to the ‘special status’ deal that David Cameron was able to negotiate with EU officials (watch Will the UK’s ‘special status’ with the EU last?) and it is already alienating the UK from Europe.

Relationships between the EU and UK will worsen.

David Cameron claims, “Britain will never be part of a European superstate.” But a superstate is what the elite in Europe want and is what they will get (cf. Revelation 17:12-13)–and the UK will be taken over by it.

What does the Bible teach about fear and cowardice? Are Christians ever afraid? Does the Bible have a different standard for courage and cowardice then the world? Why have the fear of God? How can you overcome your fears? Does Jesus chastise Christians for being afraid? What are some of the things the parable of the talents should be teaching us about fear? What did Jesus tell His “little flock’ about fear? What is the fate of the cowardly? Perfect love casts out fear, so how do you develop ‘perfect love’?